Wallace torches Vipers

The easiest job in Germain Arena does not belong to Blaze's pregame escort. It's a sweet gig, to be sure, because not just anyone gets to drive the team mascot around in an H2.

Wallace

Not the sweetest, though.

Florida quarterback Chris Wallace might as well be in cruise control these days, what with the shamefully talented batch of playmakers at his disposal every weekend.

It was more of the same against Tennessee Valley, which couldn't keep the Firecats — namely, their receivers — from breaking away for a 74-33 victory Saturday night in Estero.

Four different Firecats caught a touchdown pass from Wallace, who finished 18-of-28 for 266 yards and seven scores. He ran for a touchdown, too, jogging in after failing to find an open man.

That was rare.

It seemed that every time Wallace dropped back to pass, one of his teammates was waving a hand behind the secondary. Such has been the case throughout the season for the Firecats, who entered Saturday's game boasting four receivers with 20 catches or more.

The fun began, as usual, with Magic Benton, the af2's all-time leading receiver. He scorched the Vipers from the beginning, making five catches for 100 yards and three scores.

He even threw a pass. After Wallace's 2-yard rushing score in the third quarter, Benton heaved a celebratory bomb to the quarterback as he streaked the other way. Wallace couldn't hold on, though, allowing the ball to slip right through his fingertips.

Oh, well.

By that time the Firecats were rolling. They turned Tennessee Valley's early upset threat into a rout, piling on 26 straight points to start the second half.